I warned him once.
"Don't go!" I said
when he placed that hat
upon his head.
He turned to the side
and gave me a smile
and whispered to me
"Be back in awhile."
In a puff of dust,
in the blink of an eye
he was gone from this place.
and I'm left wondering why.

We'd come to this moment
from a time further past.
It all hinged on a glance
through shop window glass.
He'd stopped for a look
at a hat on display
in a shop on the corner
on a street on our way
to a theater in London
where we'd first started dating
a romantic reprieve
and I wouldn't be waiting.

"Don't go," I told him
in a jocular tone,
"or I'll go by myself
and leave you alone."
His face split in a grin
and he pulled me inside
the dusty old shop
where with eyes open wide
I froze where I stood
mouth hanging in wonder
at a room of lost pleasures
and glorious plunder.

There were items displayed
for any age or event,
exotic perfumes
with fabulous scents,
there were many fine fabrics
most foreign I'm sure
and hand-crafted mirrors
with some mystic allure
but John wasn't concerned
with any of that.
My love only had eyes
for an old silken hat.

"Now that's a fine choice,"
said a voice from behind
and we turned towards a man
who appeared to be blind.
He was a jovial sort
always wearing a smirk.
He struck me as odd
a peculiar clerk.
He gestured with hands
that were tapered and thin
at the window display
and the item therein.

"A wonderful hat
and reasonably priced.
Why not try it on?"
he slyly enticed.
John took it in hand
did just what he said
and placed the hat firmly
on the top of his head.
His face became wooden
like he'd suffered a scare.
I called his name softly.
All he did was just stare.

As if suddenly awakened
he fluttered his eyes
and let out a shout.
It was quite a surprise.
He turned to the clerk
and asked him the cost
but the man set his chin
and stood with arms crossed.
"I would sell this hat
and quite cheaply too
but I'm not so certain
this one is for you."

But then John leaned over
and spoke into his ear
in a whisper so low
that I couldn't hear.
Whatever John said
I  could guess that it worked
when the old man's face lit
and his wrinkled ears perked.
"I must say with haggling
you've got quite a knack.
There's a few things to sign.
Come with me to the back."

"Don't go," I said
but I don't think he was listening.
I could see in his eyes
a ravenous glistening.
He left me alone
while he went with the man
and I waited without
for a nerve-racking span.
When John finally came back
I could see he still wore
the silly old hat
but I sensed something more.

We arrived at the theater
without further distraction
and we both settled in
for the coming attraction.
The people around us
all laughed at John's hat
but he cared not a wink
for any of that.
The lights all went dark.
The movie fans cheered
and that was the first time
that John disappeared.

There was a mild concussion
a slight rush of air
and all that was left
was the hat in the chair.
I screamed like a banshee
so loud and so clear
even the back row
was touched by my fear.
An attendant came by
"There a problem here ma'am?"
but I scooped up the hat
and from that place ran.

I ran to my house
full of panic and worry
while thoughts flew from my head
in a tempestuous flurry.
I set the hat on a table
and stared at it for hours
I was certain that it
would divulge some dark powers.
I eventually tired
from the hours I'd wept
and went to my room
where I fitfully slept.

I awoke in the morning
with John in my bed
he lay awake in his clothes
with the hat on his head.
He told me a story
of  a far off land
where he'd fought an evil troll
with magic sword in hand.
I stared in disbelief
as nonsense tumbled from his lips
and if I hadn't seem him disappear
I'd have never come to grips.

Time moved on
and he disappeared more
and I grew to hate
the hat from that store.
When he came back
he always loved me the same
but to him vanishing
was an adventurous game.
He never quite realized
how long he had stayed
and each time the hat
was a little more frayed.

"Don't go," I told him
but he payed no attention.
He was lost in a world
beyond my comprehension.
But while he was battling
some strange goblin mob
his boss called me up
saying John quit his job.
I'd had enough
and I wanted him back
so I gathered myself
for my final attack.

But when he came back
he said something odd
that he'd earned the favor
of a powerful god.
I told him,"I'm worried
about how much you travel!
Your hat's wearing thin
it's begun to unravel!"
He replied,"Just one more.
One more quest, don't you see?
He'll grant me a wish
and then you can come with me."

"John! I don't want you
to do this again.
I don't care what you've done!
I don't care where you've been!
I just want you to stay.
We'd share our lives together.
I'm just worried that soon
I could lose you forever."
I begged and I pleaded
but it wouldn't get through.
I was at such a loss
as to what I should do.

"Miranda, I love you
and we can still be
together forever
if only you'd see!
I just need one last thing
must pass one last test
and this god will grant me
any request.
I'll wish you were there.
We could build a new life
away from this boredom
without worry or strife!"

And now we have come
to where this story started
with me all alone
and still broken-hearted.
"Be back in awhile,"
he'd smiled and said
and vanished again
with the hat in his stead.
As I thought to myself
of how fate was unjust
the hat crumbled away
into piles of dust.